“Ryan Paul & The Ardent, whose tune has changed recently from moody to majestic and is definitely one to watch in 2011.” – Twin Cities Metromix

As a songwriter, I have gone through several phases. When this band started up, I was writing Americana/alt-country music. Most of those tunes were put on our first record, La Vita Nuova. In early 2010, I was writing music that took us far enough away from the Americana genre, that a complete reformat was necessary. In order to document that change, we tracked Cute Souvenirs Session EP in a quick 10 hour session.

At the start of 2011, I found myself with a new batch of songs. I guess I’m not even sure how to sum them up. I had assumed that I was moving in the same bracket that held songs from Cute Souvenirs. However, upon debuting two of the songs at The Southern Songbook, co-host and friend, Adam Levy said, “Judging by this new batch of songs, I think you have moved into a good place.” The (above) quote from Metromix came shortly after.

Could it be that different? Maybe it’s not. I’m not sure if I am growing into something or if I am moving through another phase. Either way, I am having fun sorting through these new compositions with the band. We’ve just begun toying with them. There is really no telling where they can go…

Every year, I like to take a look back on the amazing things that happened and learn from the events that could be improved on. Without a doubt, 2010 brought plenty from both columns. Overall, RPandTA saw some major changes at the start of the year and rolled with them like champs.

Fun facts about 2010:

In 2010, Ryan Paul & The Ardent rehearsed for a total of 45 minutes…

Having rehearsed 45 minutes, we introduced a handful of new tunes

None of those tunes were gone through at that rehearsal

There’s a new boss in town…
At the end of 2009, I was in meetings with Invisible Button Entertainment and turned control over to Lily Troia on January 1st of 2010. With Lily taking a great deal of responsibility from my shoulders, I was able to discern where I wanted the band’s sound to go. After conferring with mentors and band members, prayer and reflection on the previous year, I decided to ask my friend Cory Eischen to play keyboards and to help me define some of the noise that was going on in the back of my head.

It’s like a piano, but goes weeeoooo…Cory Eischen took the call, took the job, and was thrown into his first show without a rehearsal. He was then thrown into six months of shows without practice. Cory will tell you that this is not how he would’ve planned it. It wasn’t ideal for the band either, but it was how the calendar worked for us. On top of the heavy gigging schedule, we pulled Cory into the studio in February with 10 hours to perfect an EP.

10 hours…
After discussion with Invisible Button, we decided it was important to document the changes in the band with a studio project. We went on to track Cute Souvenirs EP, which was tracked and mixed in 10 hours. Believe me, I would have liked more time, but we had very little cash to make this thing happen.

In the humblest of places…
It’s funny how you meet heroes in the strangest places. Almost none of my favorite stories start out with a band playing their dream show and were suddenly met by an industry professional or legend. No, in fact they all seem to happen under the worst circumstances. Such is the case with my meeting Al Kooper.
We were playing at Palmer’s in the West Bank, on the floor, with no drummer (and a drum machine to fill in) and hardly playing our best. Of course, Mr. Al Kooper walked in with Lily and Adam Levy. After our set, Al asked to speak to me. The first words out of my mouth were “We didn’t have a drummer.” I am guessing you can imagine Al’s response.
My relationship with Al continues to this day and he has been a valuable source of insight (being that he is usually the first to hear my songs when I record them in my living room in the middle of the night).

Jennefit, a benefit for Jenn Barnett at the Turf Club (March 26, 2010)– Too many amazing artists to list participated in this show. Lots of money was raised for a great artist. Jeremy Ylvisaker helped us kill our set.

Palmers with Patches & Gretchen (April 29, 2010)– Not many people at this show. Steve Goold couldn’t make it. We set up on the modest floor of Palmers. But then Al Kooper walked in…

ARTCRANK 2010 at Shelter Studios (April 10, 2010)– I don’t think we’ve ever played for as many people. The mood was right. The art was great. It was too much fun!

2011…
I believe in setting goals. I know that no goal can be met without a solid plan. In the last three months, I have been developing methods to achieve the (possibly lofty) marks I have set for this band for the upcoming year. I realize that I am just one person and that it will take a community to make all of these aspirations a reality.
I am humbled by the talent that I have in place in THE ARDENT. I am grateful for the skills and talents of Lily Troia. I am fortunate to have friends in this city who are talented enough and embody the know-how to get things done.
Charles Youel from ARTCRANK said, “I can’t help it. I know cool people.” in one of our recent discussions. Charles does know cool people. And I know cool people too (Charles is one of them) and I think it is time to start asking for input from that solid group. Our 2011 release is planned to be done at several different studios around Minneapolis. Because of a tight budget, we will be producing the record ourselves, but Adam Levy has graciously offered to swing by and give us tips and pointers as we go along. One of the studios we had planned on working with was Instrument Control studios in St. Paul. That studio was raided and robbed on Christmas day. Please help in the search for that equipment.
rp

Then, on December 17th, I (Ryan) will join The Honeydogs at The Dakota. Adam has asked me to join them on one of theirs and… one of my own! Other musicians include: Janey Winterbauer, Martin Devaney, Savannah Smith.

So there are the official details on the event we have coming up on November 11th. What you don’t know is that Lily Troia of Invisible Button Entertainment asked me what I wanted to do for my (ahem) 3oth birthday. I told her that I wanted to do some kind of show and that I wanted to do something decent for my community.

Lily took both of those requests and paired them with a benefit show for a VET house in Minneapolis that gives aid to homeless veterans. Many of these veterans suffer from addiction issues, which is something that is very near and dear to my heart. I was absolutely thrilled to hear about this AND that Invisible Button will be matching the money raised at the event!

Then the billing finalized with RPTA playing with Minor Kingdom (a band I have enjoyed playing with over the last few months) and one of my oldest friends (and musical hero #2 – after Morrissey) Jeremy Ylvisaker.

Top it off with us playing at The Aster Cafe, which is owned and run (from top to bottom) by many of my closest pals.

I urge you to get your reservations and come out for this incredible evening of music (and we’ll raise a few bucks for a good cause!).

The second is Friday, October 8th at The 331 Club with a fellow Invisible Button band, Liminal Phase. This group is an absolute trip. I saw them a few months ago and sat in the front row of the theater with my jaw in my lap. We’re talking wild instrumentals, thick arrangements, and tasteful melodies. Also on the bill is Jeremy Ylvisaker. Jeremy is a dear friend who really showed me the ropes in the Minneapolis music scene over 10 years ago.

Rumor has it that Jeremy will be toting some form of a new project called Guitar Party. This band features members of Halloween Alaska, Andrew Bird, Why?, Dosh, Alpha Consumer, Fog, Heatdeath, Mpls. Dub Ensemble, Eyedea and Abilities, etc.. their singer is a first grader at Hale Elementary. Again, I am not certain which formation will be at the 331, but I was promised a “quadruple guitar attack”.

On September 9th, we’ll join our good friends Luke Redfield and Bethany Larson at our favorite little venue in Minneapolis. This is an exciting gig as it feels like ages since we have crammed on stage at the 331 Club.

Luke Redfield is a musician who I have been honored to play with for nearly 2 years now. His songs are catchy and his lyrics are thought provoking. He is also one of my dearest pals and I never grow tired of gigging with him. Luke is a bit nomadic and we don’t get him year-round and, last I heard, he is planning to head back to Austin, TX soon. You might want to catch him while you can. This means, on this particular night, I’ll be pulling a double!

Bethany Larson has shared a bill with us once before and the 5 of us were quite impressed. She has an incredible voice and a real gift for weaving a melody. In the very least, I’m looking forward to this as an excuse to hear her again!